Metal lath expander



May 3, 1932. H, K] BAKER 1,856,686

METAL LATH EXPANDER Filed Aug. 24, 1928' 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR .MMMW O ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932.

H. K. BAKER METAL LA'IH EXPANDER Filed Aug. 24, 1928 9 Sheets-$heet 2 ms s INVENTOR B z z ATTORIZIYS May 3, 1932. H. K. BAKER METAL LATH EXPANDEH Filed Aug. 24, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR W :1

ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932. H. K. BAKER METAL LATH EXFANDER Filed Aug. 24, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 RVENTQR w \m m w k W QM y. ATTORNEYS May 3, 1932. H. K. BAKER METAL LATH EXPANDER Filed Aug. 24, 1928 9 Sheets$heet 5 INVENTOR BY W J Mn ATTORNEYQ ii"- vu an Mill y 2- H. K. BAKER 1,856,686

METAL LATH EXPANDER Filed Aug. 24} 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 'INVENTOR BY wwm ATTORNEY S y 1932- H. K; BAKER 1,856,686v

METAL LATH EXPAND ER F iled Aug. 24, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet s l ll m,

INVENTOR May 3, 1932. H. K: BAKER METAL LATH EXPANDER 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 24, 1928 INVENTOR Q W J7 ATTORNE YS I Patented May 3, 1932 STATES;

@FFEQE HERBERT K. BAKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PENN METAL COMPANY, OF ff PARKERSBUBG, WEST VIBGENIA, A. GORYPOBATION OF MASSACHUSETTS METAL LATE EXPANDER Application filed August 24, 1928. Serial No. 301,897.

T his invention relates to metal lath expanders and particularly to the type of expanders employing diverging sets of rollers to accomplish the expanding. The machine in question is particularly adapted for use in connection with flat rib lath, i. e., lath which is provided with very shallow grooves or beads in the longitudinally extending unscored or unslitted areas or strips of the sheets, in contradistinction to the type of lath which is provided -'itl1 relatively hi h ribs in the unslitted sections or strips of t is sheets.

My expanding machine may also be used in connection with lath which is not provided with any grooves or ribs.

Generally considered the objects of the present invention are the provision of a machine of rugged construction, the provision of a machine which is capable of high speed pcration and which avoidsexcessive strain to the strands of the sheets during expanding. 1 also aim to simplify the driving mechanism for the diverging sets of expanding rollers.

A few of the more specific objects of the invention are as follows:

The provision of an expander of the diverging type including only two sets or series 4 of diverging rollers, the said series of rollers being composed cf'pairs of mating rollers adapted to engage the margins of the sheets The pro ision of cooperating guides arranged between the pairs of roll rs of each series in order to ensure even and undistorted feed; v r

The provision of means for varying the tance between the series of rollers and for an; :ing their angle of divergence in order to ac ommodate the machine to slitted blanks widths; pro ion of a dris ing mechanism for the expanrcng rollers which includes a plui n oclrcts and a chain operatively each series of rollers, the; xe'rs and the chain for each series being ged to one side of and parallel to the L of miles witl. which they are associated;

he provision of a mechanism for driving the chains and by means thereof the expanding rollers which includes flexible and universal connections in order that the roller ve not interfered with when the machine is adjusted to accommodate slitted lath blanks of different widths; j

The provision of rolls at the feed and delivery ends of the machine for the purpose of guiding, flanging flattening and shaping the marginal edges of the sheets as they pass thru the expander; and i The provision of means for driving the rolls at the feedand delivery ends of the. machine as well as the expanding rollers in timed relation.

How the foregoing together with such other objects and advantages as may appear hereinafter are obtained will be apparent from a consideration of the following description taken with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings Figures la and 1?) taken together show the expander of the present invention in top plan view;

Figures 2a and 2b taken together show the machine in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a side view of a portion of one of the supports or arms for the expanding rollers including the driving mechanism for the latter;

F igure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section taken transversely of the machine on the line 66 of Figure 1a;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View taken thru the feeding end of the expander as indicated by the line 77 in Figure 2a;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views taken at one end of the rolls at the deliver}; end of the expander as indicated by the lines 88, 9-9, and 1010 of Figure 16;

Figure 11 illustrates a detail of the driving mechanism;

Figures 12 and 13 are plan and sectional views respectively of a slitted and grooved blank of the type which the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to expand;

Figures 14 and 15 are plan and sectional views respectively of the blank of Figures 12 and 13 after it has passed through the expander; and

Figure 16 is a view illustrating a detail of the invention.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1a and 1b and 2a and 2?), it will be seen that the expander of the present invention is mounted on suitable uprights or standards 16 arranged in pairs transversely of the machine and that the pairs are secured together by means of suitable ties 17.

Each of the series of upper and lower expanding rollers 18 and 19 respectively, is carried by an expander arm 20. In order to provide suitable bearings for the upper and lower expanding roller shafts 21 and 22, respectively, I have provided the upper and lower members 23 and 24, respectively, extending longitudinally along the inside of each of the expander arms 20, the same being secured to the expander arms by suitable bolts 25 and 26, respectively. (See Figures 3 4 and 5.)

It will be observed from inspection of Figure 4 that the mating rollers 18 and 19 are provided with flanges 27 and 28, respectively, which cooperate in gripping the flanged edge 29 of the slitted metal blank B. The upper rollers are mounted in such manner as to resiliently engage the lower. This is accomplished means of the bolts 30, the lower ends ,0' .vhich abut against the members 31, be) ,en which and the bearing members 32 for the shafts 21 rubber or other resilient members 33 are arranged. The bolts 30, of course, serve to adjust the pressure of the upper rollers 18 against the lower rollers 19.

The shaft 22 of each one of the'lower rollers 19 carries a gear 34 which meshes with a gear 35 mounted on a spindle or hearing 36. A sprocket 37 is also mounted on each one of the spindles or shafts 36, the same being adjacent to the gears 35 and being arranged to move therewith.

Idler sprockets 38 are arranged between the sprockets 37 and are mounted on the bolt. or shafts 26. All of these sprockets 37 are. driven by means of the drive chain 39 which travels from the delivery end of the machine alternately over and underneath the sprockets 37 and 38, respectively, toward the feeding end of the expander from where it moves toward the delivery end of the expander below the sprockets 37 and 38 (see Figs. 2a. 2b and a A slack adjuster including the stationary sprockets 40 and the adjustable sprocket 41 is preferably provided in the lower stram or run of the chain.

The spindles or shafts 36 at the feeding end of the expander are extended outwardly thru their respective expander arms 20 and these extensions are provided with bevelled gears 42. Bevelled gears 43 mesh with the gears 42, the same being mounted on shafts 44 which are suitably journaled in bearing blocks 45 secured to the expander arm 20. The shafts 44 are operatively connected to the shafts 46 by means of links 47 and suitable universal joints 48 (see Figs. 1a and 2a).

Shafts 46 are mounted for sliding move ment in the bracket members 49 secured to the central uprights or standards 16 and are provided with keyways 50, the latter cooperating with the keys 51 to secure the sprockets 52 to the shafts 46 as against relative rotation but permitting relative axial movement. (See Fig. 11.)

The main drive or power shaft 53 extends longitudinally of the expander between the uprights 16. One of the sprockets 52 referred to ust above is directly connected to the shaft 53 by means of a chain 54 engaging the sprocket 52 and another sprocket 55 mounted on the shaft 53. The other of the sprocket-s 52 is driven by means of a chain 56 engaging a sprocket 57 which is mounted on a shaft 58. the latter being suitably journaled in parallel relation to the shaft 53. A pair of gears 59 and 60 serve to connect the shaft 58 with the main power shaft 53. The above construction is clearly illustrated in Figure 6.

Between each pair of cooperating rollers 18 and 19 mounted in the expander arms are arranged cooperating guide members 61 and 62 as appears most clearly in Figures 3 and 5. The upper and lower guide members 61 and 62 are provided with longitudinally extending shoulders 63 and 64 which cooperate in engaging the marginal flanges of the slitted blanks to guide and expand the blanks as they pass thru the machine. The lower guide members 62 are rigidly mountedbetween the expander arms 20 and their respective longitudinally extending members 24 while the upper guide members 61 are resiliently mounted with respect to the lower guide members. This is accomplished by means of backing blocks 65 for supporting the lower guiding members 62 and helical compression springs 66 which react against the top surfaces of the guide members 61 and the blocks 67 rigidly mounted between the expander arms 20 and their respective longitudinally extending members 23. In order that the upper and lower guide members 61 and 62, respectively, may just engage the blanks as they pass thru the expander adjusting bolts 68 are arranged to take into the upper guide members 61 and work against the springs 66.

The mechanism for adjusting the distance between and the angle of divergence of the expander arms can best be understood from inspection of Figures 1a, 2a, 6 and 16. Each of the adjusting mechanisms includes apertured lug members 69 secured to an expander great pressure.

arm at the outside thereof and a bolt 71. extending upwardly through the elongated aperture 119 in the cross tie member 17 and the apertures in the lugs 69. A nut 120 is threaded onto the upper end of each bolt 71,

the nuts serving to rigidly secure the arms in position after an adjustment is made. The mechanism for efiecting the actual adjustment includes an apertured member mounted on each of the bolts 71 and a threaded bolt 72 rotatably mounted in each of the members 70 and extending outwardly therefrom through one of the uprights or standards 16.

The threaded bolts 72 associated with the standards 16 at the feeding end of the machine are secured thereto by means of the members 121 (see Fig. 16) the same having pivot pins 122 rot atably mounted in the standards ane a threaded opening 123 adapted to receive the bolts 72. The threaded bolts 72 associated with the standards 16 at the center of and at the delivery end of the expander are secured thereto by means of nuts 7 3 and 73a mounted on the bolts on opposite sides of the uprights in order to grip the latter therebetween (see Fig. 6).

Eat the feeding end of the expander are provided a plurality of pairs of feeding rolls. These rolls are mounted on a suitable supporting framework 7% which is provided with journal boxes at each end of the rolls, the she. ts axles 75 and 7 6 of which turn in bearing blocks 77, the latter being suitably mounted in the hearing or journal boxes of the supporting frame 7 l. The working surfaces of the u per and lower cooperating rolls 78 and 79 are provided with circumferentially extending tongues and grooves 80 and 8 respectively, for engaging and/or deepemng beads already formed in the slitted anks. The ribs 80 and the grooves 81 are 0.351 illustrated in Fig. 7. The pair of coing rolls 78 and 79 which is nearest to the feeding end of the expander arms is provided with means in the nature of an adjusting bolt 82 at each end of the upper roll of the pair for retaining the said upper roll in such a position with respect to the lower that the pair will grip the blanks with a relatively The other pair of feeding rolls 78 and 7 9 are arranged to grip the blanks with relatively light pressure. This is accomplished by means of the helical compression springs 83 which react between the bearing blocks 77 at each end of the upper roll 78 and the shanks of hollow bolt-like members 84.

As shown in Fi s. 1a 2a and 7. above the first pair of feeding rolls T have provided device for separating the rolls of the first pair, te said device including pins 124 taking into the upper side of the bearing blocks 77 and extending upwardly ther from thru the hollow bolt members 8%. The pins 124 at each side are connected by means of the rod 125- on which are mounted the cams 126 having hand levers 127. When the hand levers 127 are raised the cams 126 work against the top of the hollow bolts 84 and thereby raise the bearing blocks 77 against the pressure of the springs 83. This device may be used when it is desired to stop the operation of the expander or in case it is desired to feed the blanks thereto by hand.

The driving mechanism for the two pairs of feeding r lls 78 and 79 includes a gear mounted on each of the shafts 7 5' and 76 inside of the supporting frame 74, the gears for the rolls of each pair being intermeshed as indicated in Figure 7 at 85 and 86. At the other end of the rolls the lower shafts 76 are provided with gears 87 also arranged at the inside of the supporting frame 7 4. Both of the gears 87 mesh with and are driven by a gear 88 which is mounted on a suitable shaft 89 journaled in the frame member 74. A chain sprocket 90 is mounted on the shaft 89 outside of the frame structure 74, the said sprocket being coupled-with the main drive shaft 53 by means of chain 91, sprocket 92 and the bevelled gears 93 and 94. The sprocket 92 and the bevelled gears 93 are, of course, mounted on a common shaft 95.

It should also be noted that the upper feeding rolls 78 are provided with flanges 96 at their ends which extend outwardly therefrom beyond the working portions of the lower rolls 7 9, to cooperate therewith in engaging the margins of the sheets and turn the same downwardly into flanges.

At the other end of the expand-er arms 20 (see Figs. 1?), 2b, 8, 9 and 10) are arranged three pairs of upper and lower delivery rolls 97 and 98, the shafts 99 and 100 of which turn in suitable bearing blocks 101 which are mounted in a suitable supporting frame structure such as indicated at 102 in Fig. 26. Each pair of rolls 97 and 98 may be pressed toward each other by means of the screws or bolts 103 which are tapped into the upper part of the frame structure 102 above the bearing members 101 to press the latter downwardly. As clearly shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 each successive pair of rolls 97 and 98 is provided with cooperating working ribs for engaging the flanged margins of the eX- panded sheets or blanks as they are deliver-ed from the expander arms 20 and for gradually or successively changing the said flanged margins of the sheets into longitudinally extending beads or grooves. The working ribs 10 and 105 of the first pair of rolls work on the sheets see Fig. 8) to slightly unbend the marginal flanges 29. The working ribs 106 and 107 of the next pair of rolls very substantially flatten or unbend the flanges 29 and the working rings or ribs 108 and 109 of the last set of rolls 97 and 98 are configured to complete the flattening of the flanges 29,

and form beads or ribs therein as indicated in Figure 10.

The rolls 98 are driven by means of gears 110 which are mounted on the shafts 100 and between which are arranged the intermediate cooperating gears 111 one of which latter gears is operatively connected with a sprocket 112. The sprocket 112 is driven fromthe main driving shaft 53 thru the chain 113, sprocket 114, shaft 115 and the bevelled gears 116 and 117. The upper rolls 97 are preferably connected to the lower rolls 98 by means of the gears 118 which are mounted on the upper roll axles 99.

The expander mechanism of the present invention including its feeding and delivery rolls is particularly adapted to receive slitted and formed blanks directly from a reciprocating slitting and forming press mechanism without any intermediate handling. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a slit-ted and formed blank as it is delivered from the press mechanism to the first pair of feeding rolls of the expander. It should be observed that the blanks are provided with longitudinally extending unslitted portions or strips which are ribbed or beaded as indicated at 128 and that the slitted areas are swaged or formed, as at 129, in such a manner that the strands will open up during expanding with the least possible strains which might tend toward breaking or tearing the strands from the longitudinally extending unslitted strips 128. It should also be observed that the edges or margins of the blanks 130 are fiat and unslitted.

A press mechanism suitable for producing blanks of this type is illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 216,031, filed August 29th, 1927.

During the continuous operation of the expander blanks of the type illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 are fed from the reciprocating press mechanism or other suitable slitting and forming apparatus directly into the first pair of feeding rolls 78 and 79. The relatively light pressure with which these rolls are pressed toward each other is just suflicient to feed the blanks forwardly but not sufilcient to prevent the blanks from being moved or held stationary with respect to the blanks engaging surfaces of the rolls. lVhen the blanks are being received directly from a reciprocating press mechanism, (which type of mechanism must of necessity, feed the blanks intermittently) the feeding rolls do not interfere in any way with the operation of the reciprocating press mechanism. The expander mechanism of the present invention preferably positioned a sufficient distance from the slitting and forming mechanism so that the blanks leave the latter just prior to the time at which the leading edge of the blanks reach s and is engaged by the second pair of feeding rolls 7 8 and 79. This second pair of rolls as already pointed out, are

pressed together with a relatively great'pressure in order to rigidly engage the blanks and ensure a positive and continuous feed to the expander rollers mounted in the expander arms 20.

As the blanks pass thru the feeding rolls their flat margins are engaged and turned down into flanges 29 by-the rings or ribs 96 at the ends of the upper rolls 78. The beads or grooves extending longitudinally of the unslitted strips of the blanks are, of course, engaged by the circumferentially extending ribs and grooves 80 and 81 of the upper and lower feeding rolls, respectively.

As the blanks advance their marginal flanges (indicated at 29 in Fig. 4) are engaged by the diverging trains or series of mating rollers 18 and 19 and are fed thereby thru the cooperating guides 61 and 62 thru which they move to the succeeding pairs of rollers and guides. Thus the margins of the sheets are gradually separated and the slitted areas thereby expanded. It should be noted at this point that the adjusting bolts 68 for the upper guides 61 are arranged to work against the springs 66 in order to prevent the guides from gripping the blanks with excessive pressure. A substantial amount of frictional resistance and strains on the guides, feeding rolls and rollers is thereby avoided.

The blanks are delivered from the guides and rollers to the delivering rolls 97 and 98. As previously pointed out the three pairs of delivering rolls 97 and 98 are provided with cooperating rings or ribs which engage the flanged margins of the blanks and successively change the same into beaded ribs 131 (see Figs. 14 and 15) which are, in all respects, similar to those in the longitudinally extending unslitted strips of the blanks as originally fed to the expander. The configuration of the sheets as they are delivered from the mechanism of the present invention completely expanded is clearly illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings. 7

In connection with the mechanism for adjusting the distance between and for altering the angle of divergence of the expander arms 20, it should be noted that this adjustment not only provides an accurate control of the amount of expansion desired, but also permits the expander to be used in connection with several substantially standard widths of blanks. When an adjustment is to be made, the bolts 71 are loosened and the arms 20 are adjusted or moved to the desired place after which the bolts 71 are again tightened in order to rigidly secure the expander arms 20 to the cross ties 17 (see Figs. 1a, 1b and 6). It is to be understood, of course, that feeding and/or delivering rolls of different widths are inserted in the machine when an adjustment is made.

When the feeding ends of the expander arms are moved the sliding connections (illustrated in Figure 11) for the shafts 46:3000111- modate the consequent variations in length of the connections 47 for the flexible drive to the feeding and expanding rollers. Thus the adjustments may be made without in any way interfering with the roller driving mechanism.

According to my invention I have provided an expander which is adapted to receive blanks directly from a slitting mechanism and completely expand and deliver the same without any intermediate handling. This is accomplished by means of an apparatus which is positive in action relatively simple in construction and easy to adjust or repair.

t might also be noted that the driving mechanism including the chain running parallel with each expander arm 20 together with the flexible driving mechanism for the chain results in a construction in which the chain as well as the working surfaces of the feeding and expanding rollers move in the line of divergence-of the margins of the sheets. Thus the feeding ofthe sheets is accomplished by a mechanism which is not only positive in operation but also effective in avoiding distorting or twisting strains on the blanks.

I have illustrated only one design or type of blank which the apparatus of the present invention is adapt-ed to expand but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention in order to adapt the machine to other types.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a plurality of pairs of expanding rollers and pairs of 00- operating guide members between each pair of rollers, one roller of each pair and one guide member of each pair being yieldingly mounted with respect to the other roller and member of their respective pairs.

2. In apparatus of the character described the combination of a plurality of pairsof expanding rollers and pairs of cooperating guide members between each pair of rollers, one guide member of each pair being yieldingly mounted with respect .to the other.

3. I11 apparatus of the character described the combination of a plurality of pairs of expanding rollers and pairs of cooperating guide members between each pairof rollers, one guide member of each pair being yieldingly mounted with respect to the other, together with means for spacing'the guide members of each pair from each other.

l. In apparatus for expanding slitted sheets the combination of a series of pairs of mating rollers adapted to engage and feed the sheets, pairs of cooperating guide memhere between the pairs of rollers, means for driving one roller of each pair, means for yieldingly urging the rollers of each pair toward each other, means foryieldinglyurging the guide members of each pair toward each other and means for spacing the guide members of each pair from each other.

5. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks in the general plane thereof the combination of'a plurality of pairs .of expanding mllers arranged in .diaverging series spaced from each other to feed the blanks in said general plane, and means for varying the spec 1g of the series as :u:

an apparatus for expanding slitted blanks in the general plane thereof the combination a plurality of pairs of expanding rollers arranged in diverging series spaced from each other to feed the blanks in said general plane, and means for varying the spacing of the series as units, together with means movable with the units for driving the expanding rollers thereof.

7,. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks in the general plane thereof the combination of a plurality of pairs ofexpanding rollers arranged in diverging series spaced from each other to feed the blanks in said general plane, and means for varying the spacing of the series as units, together with means for driving the expanding rollers, includi-ng means for operatively connecting rollers of each series with a shaft adju table with the series,.sa-id shaft, a stationary shaft and a flexible connection between the shafts.

8,. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks the .combinationof a pair ofdi-verging expander arms, expanding rollers carried thereby and means for adjusting said arms at the {feeding ends thereof to accommodate blanks of various Widths.

9. In apparatus for expanding slit-ted blanks :in the general plane :thereofthe combination of a pair of diverging expander arms, expanding rollers carried thereby to feed the blanks in thesaid general plane, and means for adjusting said arms to accommodate blanks of various widths, together with means for driving the rollers including a driven shaft, a shaft carried by each :arm and flexible connections operatively connecting the first mentioned shaft with the other shafts.

10. In an expander for expanding slitted blanks in the general ,pla-ne thereof, the combination of diverging expander arms, :a plurality [of pairs of (expanding rollers carried by each arm to feed the blanks in the said general plane, the axes of :the rollers :being arranged substantially at right angles to the extension of the arms :by which they are carried and a chain :clriving mechanism for the rollers "of each arm including a chain extending parallel to the arm,;together :with means for adjusting the :arms with respectto each other at-theirfeeding ends.

.11.. In an expander tor expanding :shtted blanks the general plane:thereof,thecombination of diverging expander arms, :a plurality of pairs of expanding rollers carried by each arm to feed the blanks in the said general plane, the axes of the rollers being arranged substantially at right angles to the extension of the arms by which they are carried and a chain driving mechanism for the rollers of each arm including a chain extending parallel to the arm, together with means for adjusting the arms with respect to each other at their feeding ends and means including flexible connections for driving said chain driving mechanisms.

12. An expander including diverging series of rollers adjustable with respect to each other,feeding rollers at one end of said series, delivering rolls at the other end of said series, means for driving the rollers of each series including a shaft adjustable therewith a driven shaft, and a flexible coupling extending between the shafts, together with means for driving said rolls in synchronism with said rollers.

13. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks the combination of diverging series of rollers and guides, and rolls at one end thereof for forming flanges at the sides of the blanks and for feeding the flanged blanks to the rollers and guides, the said rollers and guides being configured and arranged to engage the flanged sides of the blanks, together with rolls at the other end of the series of rollers and guides for forming the flanges at the sides of the blanks into beads.

14. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks the combination of means for expanding the blanks and means for feeding the blanks thereto including a pair of cooperating rolls, means for driving the rolls and means for yieldingly urging said rolls 1 toward each other to engage the blanks with pressure suflicient to feed them but not sufficient to prevent them from being readily moved or held stationary with respect to the blank engaging surfaces of the rolls.

15. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks the combination of means for expanding the blanks and means for feeding the blanks thereto including a pair of cooperating rolls, means for driving the rolls and means for yieldingly urging said rolls toward each other to engage the blanks with pressure suflicient to feed them but not suflicient to prevent them from being readily moved or held stationary with respect to the blank engaging surfaces of the rolls, together with rolls positioned between those first mentioned and the expanding means and means for urging said last mentioned rolls toward each other to engage the blanks with relatively great pressure.

16. In an expander for slitted blanks, means for forming flanges at the margins of the blanks, roller means for expanding the blanks by engagement with theflanged margins and means for delivering the sheets from the expander means including roll means for engaging the flanged margins, the said roll means being configured to flatten the flanged margins and form beads therein.

17. In apparatus of the character described, an expanding mechanism and means for feeding slitted blanks thereto including a plurality of pairs of rolls and means for drivin the same to feed the blanks, the rolls of one of said pairs being resiliently urged toward each other to engage the blanks with a relatively light pressure.

18. In apparatus of the character described, an expanding mechanism and means for feeding slitted blanks thereto including a plurality of pairs of rolls and means for driving the same to feed the blanks, the rolls of one of said pairs being resiliently urged toward each other to engage the blanks with a relatively light pressure, the other rolls be ng 52;

arranged to engage the blanks with a rela tively heavy pressure.

19. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks the combination of means for expanding the blanks and means for feeding the :3:

blanks thereto including a pair of cooperating rolls, means'for driving the rolls and means for yieldingly urging said rolls to ward each other to engage the blanks with pressure suflicient to feed them but not sufficiout to prevent them from being readily moved or held stationary with respect to the blank engaging surfaces of the rolls, together with means for releasing the said pressure.

20. In apparatus of the character de- TF3? scribed, an expanding mechanism and means for feeding slitted blanks thereto including a plurality of pairs of rolls and means for driving the same to feed the blanks, the rolls of one of said pairs being resiliently urged toward each other to engage the blanks with a relatively light pressure, and the other rolls being arranged to engage the blanks with a relatively heavy pressure, together with means for releasing the pressure between the F rolls of the first-mentioned pair.

21. In a machine for expanding slitted sheets the combination of a plurality of pairs of mating rollers arranged in two continuously diverging series to engage the margins of the sheets and completely expand the same in the general plane thereof, the axes of the rollers in each series being extended approximately perpendicularly to the diverging line 23. In a machine for expanding slitted sheets the combination of a plurality of pairs of mating rollers arranged in two continuously diverging series to engage the margins of the sheets and completely expand the same in the general plane thereof, the axes of the rollers in each series being extended approximately perpendicularly to the diverging line thereof and pairs of cooperating guides between and in alignment with the pairs of rollers of each series.

24. In a machine for expanding slitted and marginally flanged sheets the combination of a plurality of pairs of mating rollers arranged in two continuously diverging series. the mating surfaces of the rollers being configured to engage the flanged margins of the sheets and completely expand the same in the general plane thereof, the axes of the rollers in each series being extended approxi mately perpendicularly to the diverging line hereof, together with pairs of co-operating guides between and in alignment with the pairs of rollers of each series, the guides also being configured to engage the flanged margins.

25. In a machine for expanding slitted sheets the combination of a plurality of pairs of mating rollers arranged in two diverging series to engage the margins of the sheets and completely expand the same in the general plane thereof, the axes of the rollers in each series being extended approximately perpendicularly to the diverging line thereof and means for driving said rollers including sprockets and a chain therefor operatively associated therewith.

26. In a machine for expanding slitted sheets the comoination of a plurality of pairs of mating rollers arranged in two diverging series to engage the margins of the sheets and completely expand the same in the general. plane thereof, the axes of the rollers in each series being extended approximately perpendicularly to the diverging line thereof and means for driving said rollers including sprockets and a chain therefor operatively associated with each series, the sprockets for each series being arranged to diverge from those of the other series substantially at the angle of divergence of the said series of rollers.

27. In a machine for expanding slitted sheets the combination of a pair of diverging expander arms, a plurality of pairs of expanding rollers carried by each arm for engaging the margins of the sheets and expand the same in the general plane thereof, the axes of the rollers carried by each arm being extended approximately perpendicularly to the diverging line thereof, sprockets operatively associated with the rollers and a drive chain for the sprockets of each arm, the said chains extending parallel to their respective arms.

28. In a machine for expanding slitted sheets the combination of a pair of diverging expander arms, a plurality of pairs of expanding rollers carried by each arm for engaging the margins of the sheets and expand the same in the general plane thereof, the axes of the rollers carried by each arm being extended approximately perpendicularly to the diverging line thereof, sprockets operatively associated with the rollers and a drive chain for the sprockets of each arm, the said chains extending parallel to their respective arms, together with stationary guiding members between the rollers of each arm.

29. In apparatus for expanding slitted blanks, a pair of stationary, diverging guide devices each including a pair of guide members, means for urging one of said members of each pair toward the other of the pair and adjustable means for spacing said members from each other, together with means for feeding slitted blanks through the guide devices.

30. In a machine for expanding a blank having a slitted portion intermediate its margins, the combination of a plurality of pairs of mating rollers arranged in two diverging series to engage the margins of the blank and complete the expansion of the slitted portion thereof in the original general plane of the blank by separating such margins in the said original general plane.

31. In a machine for expanding slitted blanks, rolls at one end of the machine for feeding blanks therethrough, said rolls being configured to form marginal or edge flanges on the blanks, expanding means consisting of two diverging series of expanding devices arranged to cooperate with the marginal flanges of the blanks, each of said series including spaced driven pairs of mating rollers configured to engage said flanged margins, and pairs of cooperating stationary guides having mating portions providing a groove extended between rollers of adjacent pairs and configured to engage the said flanged margins.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

HERBERT K. BAKER. 

